Saudi Arabia: Will they ever be "allowed" Nuclear arms?

[NVP]

Earlier in the week I read an article regarding Saudi Arabia progressing with its intent to create their own arms industry as they begin accepting license applications in the military sector.

Saudi news agencies reported that Riyadh has begun accepting license applications for firms in the military industrial sector, a major target under plans to diversify the kingdom’s economy away from oil exports. The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), will license companies to manufacture firearms, ammunition, military explosives, military equipment, individual military equipment and military electronics, state news agency SPA reported.

...

The issuance of licensing is a major step in Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman’s plan to diversify the kingdom’s economy. Last year he said he wanted Riyadh to produce or assemble half its defence equipment locally in order to create 40,000 jobs for Saudis by 2030. During the announcement of the launch of a state-owned military industrial company the crown prince said: “The company will seek to be a key catalyst … to localize 50 percent of total government military spending in the Kingdom by the year 2030,” up from just two per cent now.


Article

Today I read another article which publicised the announcement by the SA energy minister which said they wish to enrich uranium for atomic fuel.

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia wants to enrich uranium for its nuclear power program, its energy minister said on Monday, potentially complicating talks with Washington on an atomic pact and the role of U.S. companies.

Uranium enrichment has been a sticking point with the United States, especially after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in 2018 that the Sunni Muslim kingdom would develop nuclear arms if regional rival Shi’ite Muslim Iran did.


Article

Considering the Crown Prince statement above, it seems a likely pursuit and one which could be quietly and relatively quickly achievable with their "resources".


Is there anything the rest of the world could actually do to prevent them? Can they be hit hard with sanctions? Would it even go to covert sabotage levels?

Or do we sit back and just wait hoping the likely scenario is it's just another country with nukes that won't ever use them, or doesn't intend to rather as we cannot really talk in absolutes.

 

[NVP]

I guess not simply allowed, but aided:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry has approved six secret authorizations by companies to sell nuclear power technology and assistance to Saudi Arabia, according to a copy of a document seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

(old) Article

Quite a detailed analysis of these Part 810 Authorisations and the avoidance of the section 123 agreement can be found in the following article.
'thebulletin.org: decoding the US secret authorizations to sell nuclear technology to saudi arabia'


Edit: @StriderX

Considering recent news about a particular family from the US going over and trying to deal in nuclear reactor/fuel, it's not much more of a stretch to go straight to arms.

Is this what you were referring to?

 

[NVP]

it is far easier and simpler to go straight for a covert bomb program than to try and obfuscate or develop weapons via nuclear energy.

Yes, but if they want to have both nuclear energy and arms they're right on track...

 

[NVP]

Maybe they're playing the long game and will eventually use it as a reason to "liberate some people"

 

[NVP]

It's like we need some type of global law enforcement...